Recovery of escaped oxygen from earth using cyclotron sytems for the creation of energy, water, and a breathable atmosphere on mars, the moon, or inner planets

Abstract

NASA, ESA, and Japanese Space Agency (JAXA) have undertaken studies (e.g., “Lunar Ice-Trap ISRU Mining, Processing and Storage Infrastructure: An infrastructure that mines and breaks down lunar ice into oxygen and hydrogen fuel”) to determine likely sources of water and oxygen for human colonies on Mars or Moon. Some of these studies are university-level research through fund allocations for departmental research, or through student interest in space exploration. Other studies are conducted at national levels through space agencies and through privately funded space probes. One of these studies was executed by the JAXA determined the source of the lunar-ice on the Moon (from the Kaguya/ZELENE lunar probe). JAXA estimated that 90 metric tons of Earth's atmosphere escapes per day with oxygen ions reaching energies of between 1 keV and 10 keV.

1 . An apparatus for capturing gases from Earth atmosphere, comprising:
 at least one cyclotron; a source of a radio frequency field;   a dewar for capturing gases,   wherein the apparatus is configured to orbit around Earth.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the source of RF field is a voltage source of alternating current. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclotron is made of thin, potential ferromagnetic or paramagnetic metal. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cyclotron is a first cyclotron, the apparatus further comprising at least four more cyclotrons arranged in a stacked arrangement. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising structure configured to hold the cyclotrons together. 
     
     
         6 . A method for capturing gases from Earth atmosphere, comprising:
 orbiting at least one cyclotron in Earth orbit;   energizing the cyclotron using a radio frequency field;   passing gas ions through the cyclotron; and capturing the gas ions a dewar for capturing gases.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gas ions are oxygen ions.